Sniff out Meaning in English

expression

US

ˈsnɪf/ /ˈaʊt

SNIF-owt

UK

snˈɪf/ /ˈaʊt

sn-IF-owt

Definition

To find or discover something, often by searching carefully or by using intuition, like a dog uses its nose to smell.

Usage & Nuances

'Sniff out' is informal, often used for solving mysteries or discovering secrets: 'sniff out the truth,' 'sniff out a problem.' It can refer to literal smelling, but is most common figuratively for discovering something hidden.

• Spanish: descubrir (olfatear) - detectar
• Portuguese (BR): descobrir - farejar (sentido figurado)
• Portuguese (PT): descobrir - farejar (sentido figurado)
• Chinese (Simplified): 发现（通过嗅觉或调查） - 查明
• Chinese (Traditional): 發現（通過嗅覺或調查） - 查明
• Hindi: पता लगाना
• Arabic: يكتشف - يعثر على (بعد بحث)
• Bengali: খুঁজে বের করা - অনুসন্ধান করা
• Russian: выявлять - разнюхивать - вынюхивать
• Japanese: 嗅ぎつける
• Vietnamese: đánh hơi ra - phát hiện ra
• Korean: 찾아내다 - 냄새를 맡아내다
• Turkish: koklamak - ortaya çıkarmak
• Urdu: سراغ لگانا
• Indonesian: đánh hơi ra - phát hiện

Example Sentences

Dogs can sniff out drugs at the airport.

basic

The journalist tried to sniff out the truth.

basic

Can you sniff out who ate the cookies?

basic

She's great at sniffing out a good bargain when shopping.

natural

We need to sniff out what's causing the problem before we fix it.

natural

He always seems to sniff out trouble wherever he goes.

natural